New uni year, new attempt with the blog. This summer's been one of change, not all good. I'm trying to make a lot of changes in myself, which is difficult, but hopefully it will work. Spending all of today in bed wasn't part of the plan.
So I'm trying to eat a bit more healthily, pay off my debts, keep on top of my uni work, be more positive and make more of an effort with people. Massive ask.
Friday, 25 September 2009
Friday, 13 March 2009
I remembered my blog again. I'm so bad at this.
Things haven't exactly been perfect recently. A lot of things have gone on in my family, and whilst (almost) everyone seems to be a lot happier now that they are, to some extent, resolved, I feel awful. Whatever I may be told, or what I may know, I feel guilty. I can't even begin to explain why. I hope it passes.
I have little motivation to do my uni work, which is odd. I'm so determined to get a first, but I'm not making it easy for myself at all. I procrastinate constantly, and I've wasted so many hours this week alone which could have been spent on an essay or my dissertation. I anticipate using 24 hour library opening frequently over the next 2 months, if only to take me away from the distractions of my house.
On that subject (the house I mean) I have no idea what's happening. Until I know for certain which uni I'll be at come September I'm postponing making any plans for when I'm unceremoniously forced to leave my home in the middle of May. The atmosphere around here is horrific, but I'm taking comfort in the fact that I'm blameless. I haven't even shouted. This is a big deal for me. I've always struggled with my temper, and to have kept it so well over the last few weeks makes me proud. Go me.
Been to some awesome shows, as always. By the end of June I will have seen all 6 of my favourite artists in 2009. Nearly all of the top 10 in fact. It's brilliant.
Things haven't exactly been perfect recently. A lot of things have gone on in my family, and whilst (almost) everyone seems to be a lot happier now that they are, to some extent, resolved, I feel awful. Whatever I may be told, or what I may know, I feel guilty. I can't even begin to explain why. I hope it passes.
I have little motivation to do my uni work, which is odd. I'm so determined to get a first, but I'm not making it easy for myself at all. I procrastinate constantly, and I've wasted so many hours this week alone which could have been spent on an essay or my dissertation. I anticipate using 24 hour library opening frequently over the next 2 months, if only to take me away from the distractions of my house.
On that subject (the house I mean) I have no idea what's happening. Until I know for certain which uni I'll be at come September I'm postponing making any plans for when I'm unceremoniously forced to leave my home in the middle of May. The atmosphere around here is horrific, but I'm taking comfort in the fact that I'm blameless. I haven't even shouted. This is a big deal for me. I've always struggled with my temper, and to have kept it so well over the last few weeks makes me proud. Go me.
Been to some awesome shows, as always. By the end of June I will have seen all 6 of my favourite artists in 2009. Nearly all of the top 10 in fact. It's brilliant.
Sunday, 18 January 2009
This week has been somewhat crazy. My birthday celebrations were a lot of fun, and I got to spend time with people I really should see more often than I actually do, which is always good. Yesterday was 5 months since Tom and I got together, celebrated with a lovely Mexican meal and a lot of junk food. And today...well, I'm supposed to be putting in lots of effort to do my uni work for this week. So far, not so much. But I'm going to now. Promise.
Friday, 9 January 2009
21 and invincible
Well, very nearly.
First week back at uni this week. I do feel like I have a lot to do to get the first I've promised myself, but if I knuckle down just a little bit more I'm sure it's achievable. I think. I hope. Oh I don't know anymore.
I'm home for the weekend. Mum seems to be trying to overcompensate for general family rubbishness, which is sweet but a tad uncomfortable. Shopping and a meal tomorrow, then back to London on Sunday. Monday sees the big 2-1, and a night with the majority of my favourite people. A week of partying, and celebrating 5 whole months with the boy, will fill out the rest of the next 10 days. I can see my grades slipping already....but hey, work hard and play hard.
First week back at uni this week. I do feel like I have a lot to do to get the first I've promised myself, but if I knuckle down just a little bit more I'm sure it's achievable. I think. I hope. Oh I don't know anymore.
I'm home for the weekend. Mum seems to be trying to overcompensate for general family rubbishness, which is sweet but a tad uncomfortable. Shopping and a meal tomorrow, then back to London on Sunday. Monday sees the big 2-1, and a night with the majority of my favourite people. A week of partying, and celebrating 5 whole months with the boy, will fill out the rest of the next 10 days. I can see my grades slipping already....but hey, work hard and play hard.
Sunday, 4 January 2009
Film reviews, 1-4th January
Twilight
Yes, I went to see it. It's awesome. I really didn't expect to enjoy it quite so much, but it surprised me. The acting is good, the story is a classic, the effects are cringey at times, but it's still fantastic. 8/10
The Spirit
Visually, this film doesn't disappoint. It looks almost as good as Sin City. Almost. However, the story is bland, the acting barely covers the lack of a strong plot, and the real appeal is seeing the variety of beautiful women in various states of undress. It had so much potential, but it just doesn't hit the mark. 5/10
Hellboy 2: The Golden Army
Guillermo del Toro's labour of love, and it shows. The level of detail in crowd scenes, the individual monsters, the story and the visual splendour are reminiscent of the first film, only slightly better. The humour is perfectly placed, nothing feels forced, and the 'monster' characters somehow feel more real than the humans. 7/10
Eastern Promises
I expected this to have a definite cringe-factor - non-Russians playing Russian parts could easily have backfired. Viggo Mortensen is a revelation, tough but with a clear moral centre. The violence is not excessive, and the story is believable. The characters are well-played and easy to connect with - the villains seem the more villainous for their obvious human flaws. Interesting and well-made, but not entirely my thing. 6/10
Yes, I went to see it. It's awesome. I really didn't expect to enjoy it quite so much, but it surprised me. The acting is good, the story is a classic, the effects are cringey at times, but it's still fantastic. 8/10
The Spirit
Visually, this film doesn't disappoint. It looks almost as good as Sin City. Almost. However, the story is bland, the acting barely covers the lack of a strong plot, and the real appeal is seeing the variety of beautiful women in various states of undress. It had so much potential, but it just doesn't hit the mark. 5/10
Hellboy 2: The Golden Army
Guillermo del Toro's labour of love, and it shows. The level of detail in crowd scenes, the individual monsters, the story and the visual splendour are reminiscent of the first film, only slightly better. The humour is perfectly placed, nothing feels forced, and the 'monster' characters somehow feel more real than the humans. 7/10
Eastern Promises
I expected this to have a definite cringe-factor - non-Russians playing Russian parts could easily have backfired. Viggo Mortensen is a revelation, tough but with a clear moral centre. The violence is not excessive, and the story is believable. The characters are well-played and easy to connect with - the villains seem the more villainous for their obvious human flaws. Interesting and well-made, but not entirely my thing. 6/10
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
New year, new challenge
I'm attempting the 101 in 1001. If you don't know, you have 1001 days to complete 101 tasks which you set yourself. Starting on the 1st of January, I have until 29th of September 2011.
Here's my list:
Give blood
Go one month without biting my nails (/30)
Visit Italy
Save £1500 (£100/1500)
Donate money to charity
Be able to say I have read all 200 books from the BBC's Big Read (82/200)
Write a list of 101 things that make me happy (/101)
Take up a new hobby
Learn a new language
Go a day without swearing
Adopt a penguin
Get at least a high 2:1 in my degree
Give up chocolate, sweets and fizzy drinks for 2 weeks (/14)
Learn to cook ten different meals (/10)
Take pictures related to at least 40 of these tasks (/40)
Subscribe to Empire magazine
Go to the gym three times a week for a month (/12)
Stick to my weekly budget for three consecutive months (/12)
Get my provisional driving licence
Have at least one driving lesson
Clear my credit card
Watch 100 films I have never seen before (/100)
Stay in a relationship for over a year (4.5/12)
Take my Alkaline Trio live total to 30 times (15/30)
Empty my wardrobe and take all unwanted clothes to charity shops
Watch the sun set
Get a new tattoo to do with literature
See Symphonie Fantastique live
Go to the theatre 4 times in a calendar year (/4)
Update my blog once a week for a calendar year (/52)
Go to the opera
Get a First Aid certification
Go one week without the internet
Read 5 books published in 2000 (/5)
Write in my personal diary every day for three months (/60)
Style my hair properly every day for a month (/30)
Use my skincare products twice a day for a month (/30)
Eat only food from my house (no buying chocolate or takeaways!) every day for 2 weeks (/14)
Watch all 100 of the AFI’s 100 years, 100 movies (19/100)
See a Shakespeare play at the theatre
Read 5 Shakespeare plays I have never read before (/5)
Write ten new poems (/10)
Complete an internship at a magazine
Run for charity
bake a cake
Get a manicure
Identify 25 things I like about myself
Transfer 10% of every paycheck into my savings
Get a place on a Masters course
Decide on my PhD subject
Participate in the Jack The Ripper walk
Write a list of 20 sights around the world which I want to see (/20)
Visit at least 5 of them (/5)
Write 10 letters to my boyfriend (/10)
Host a themed movie night
Travel first class
Buy a copy of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”
Own a copy of every Dickens novel
Go two weeks without wearing a single band t shirt (/14)
Make my bed every day for three months (/60)
Get up at 7.30 every day for two weeks (/14)
Complete a crossword
Go one week without complaining (/7)
Make a list of my twenty favourite albums of all time (/20)
Eat vegetarian for one week
Go to the dentist
Try ten new foods (/10)
Put £2 in my savings for every challenge completed
Donate £2 to charity for every challenge not completed
Have 30 Disney films in my DVD collection by the end of the 1001 days (10/30?)
Have a board game party
Attend the graduation ball at QMUL
Feed the ducks
Own every Tim Burton film currently available on DVD
Upload 5 photos to Deviant Art every month for 6 consecutive months (/30)
Visit 5 museums
See a film in IMAX
Finally meet Ben!
Listen to every song on my IPOD
Call both of my parents once a week for two months
Buy a new laptop
Make a list of all books and DVDs that I own
register to vote
Wear my stilettos in public 5 times (/5)
Watch a live burlesque show
Ask Tom to think of 5 challenges for me
^
^
^
^
^
Ask my parents to think of 5 challenges for me
^
^
^
^
^
Pay my Nan the money I owe her from my house deposit
See Ross Noble with Emily
Buy a new necklace
Wear make-up every day for a week
Here's my list:
Give blood
Go one month without biting my nails (/30)
Visit Italy
Save £1500 (£100/1500)
Donate money to charity
Be able to say I have read all 200 books from the BBC's Big Read (82/200)
Write a list of 101 things that make me happy (/101)
Take up a new hobby
Learn a new language
Go a day without swearing
Adopt a penguin
Get at least a high 2:1 in my degree
Give up chocolate, sweets and fizzy drinks for 2 weeks (/14)
Learn to cook ten different meals (/10)
Take pictures related to at least 40 of these tasks (/40)
Subscribe to Empire magazine
Go to the gym three times a week for a month (/12)
Stick to my weekly budget for three consecutive months (/12)
Get my provisional driving licence
Have at least one driving lesson
Clear my credit card
Watch 100 films I have never seen before (/100)
Stay in a relationship for over a year (4.5/12)
Take my Alkaline Trio live total to 30 times (15/30)
Empty my wardrobe and take all unwanted clothes to charity shops
Watch the sun set
Get a new tattoo to do with literature
See Symphonie Fantastique live
Go to the theatre 4 times in a calendar year (/4)
Update my blog once a week for a calendar year (/52)
Go to the opera
Get a First Aid certification
Go one week without the internet
Read 5 books published in 2000 (/5)
Write in my personal diary every day for three months (/60)
Style my hair properly every day for a month (/30)
Use my skincare products twice a day for a month (/30)
Eat only food from my house (no buying chocolate or takeaways!) every day for 2 weeks (/14)
Watch all 100 of the AFI’s 100 years, 100 movies (19/100)
See a Shakespeare play at the theatre
Read 5 Shakespeare plays I have never read before (/5)
Write ten new poems (/10)
Complete an internship at a magazine
Run for charity
bake a cake
Get a manicure
Identify 25 things I like about myself
Transfer 10% of every paycheck into my savings
Get a place on a Masters course
Decide on my PhD subject
Participate in the Jack The Ripper walk
Write a list of 20 sights around the world which I want to see (/20)
Visit at least 5 of them (/5)
Write 10 letters to my boyfriend (/10)
Host a themed movie night
Travel first class
Buy a copy of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”
Own a copy of every Dickens novel
Go two weeks without wearing a single band t shirt (/14)
Make my bed every day for three months (/60)
Get up at 7.30 every day for two weeks (/14)
Complete a crossword
Go one week without complaining (/7)
Make a list of my twenty favourite albums of all time (/20)
Eat vegetarian for one week
Go to the dentist
Try ten new foods (/10)
Put £2 in my savings for every challenge completed
Donate £2 to charity for every challenge not completed
Have 30 Disney films in my DVD collection by the end of the 1001 days (10/30?)
Have a board game party
Attend the graduation ball at QMUL
Feed the ducks
Own every Tim Burton film currently available on DVD
Upload 5 photos to Deviant Art every month for 6 consecutive months (/30)
Visit 5 museums
See a film in IMAX
Finally meet Ben!
Listen to every song on my IPOD
Call both of my parents once a week for two months
Buy a new laptop
Make a list of all books and DVDs that I own
register to vote
Wear my stilettos in public 5 times (/5)
Watch a live burlesque show
Ask Tom to think of 5 challenges for me
^
^
^
^
^
Ask my parents to think of 5 challenges for me
^
^
^
^
^
Pay my Nan the money I owe her from my house deposit
See Ross Noble with Emily
Buy a new necklace
Wear make-up every day for a week
Monday, 29 December 2008
I got so scared that I forgot my name
or so busy that I forgot about my blog. I think Skiba was more poetic about it than me though. This post won't make much sense. I apologise.
So. The end of 2008 is upon us. As I welcomed the year in a bar in Manchester, I promised myself that it would be the best year I've ever had. And honestly, I think I pretty much managed it.
University has gone well. Whilst I haven't really felt like I've worked much so far this year, I've kept on top of everything, and I've even started writing my dissertation. I've paid for this with a lack of social life (I've been working at the SU a LOT), but that is a resolution for 2009 taken care of.
Things with Tom are still wonderful. 4 and a half months have flown by, and spending Christmas with his family last week felt so natural. It's a good feeling.
My family seems to be self-destructing a little. I can't really say much in blog format, especially since I currently have literally no idea at all of what's happening. Needless to say, it's not helped with my sleep trouble.
Cub has been brilliant, editing a section is exhausting but as I now have my replacement ready to be trained the weight is definitely lifted. Shared, rather than removed. But lessened nonetheless.
I've also restarted my LOVEfilm account and will be buying a new Genesis pass, so film reviews are inevitably going to return to this page.
My 2009 resolutions:
1. Make more of an effort with my friends - friendship works two ways and I apologise profusely to everyone for being such an ass recently.
2. Write more reviews.
3. Put 110% into every remaining piece of university work - I need to get a fantastic grade or I'll hate myself forever.
I'm sure there's more, but those are clearly the important ones since they come to mind most readily.
I'm going to continue reading Romola whilst listening to Stephen Fry's very soothing voice.
So. The end of 2008 is upon us. As I welcomed the year in a bar in Manchester, I promised myself that it would be the best year I've ever had. And honestly, I think I pretty much managed it.
University has gone well. Whilst I haven't really felt like I've worked much so far this year, I've kept on top of everything, and I've even started writing my dissertation. I've paid for this with a lack of social life (I've been working at the SU a LOT), but that is a resolution for 2009 taken care of.
Things with Tom are still wonderful. 4 and a half months have flown by, and spending Christmas with his family last week felt so natural. It's a good feeling.
My family seems to be self-destructing a little. I can't really say much in blog format, especially since I currently have literally no idea at all of what's happening. Needless to say, it's not helped with my sleep trouble.
Cub has been brilliant, editing a section is exhausting but as I now have my replacement ready to be trained the weight is definitely lifted. Shared, rather than removed. But lessened nonetheless.
I've also restarted my LOVEfilm account and will be buying a new Genesis pass, so film reviews are inevitably going to return to this page.
My 2009 resolutions:
1. Make more of an effort with my friends - friendship works two ways and I apologise profusely to everyone for being such an ass recently.
2. Write more reviews.
3. Put 110% into every remaining piece of university work - I need to get a fantastic grade or I'll hate myself forever.
I'm sure there's more, but those are clearly the important ones since they come to mind most readily.
I'm going to continue reading Romola whilst listening to Stephen Fry's very soothing voice.
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